Eops 2013 11_21

Surface Conditions Report November 21, 2013

Eyes Over Puget Sound

Up-to-date observations of visible water quality conditions in Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca

Flight log Weather Water column Aerial photos Ferry and Satellite Moorings

Start here

Publication No. 13-03-080

Personal flight log p. 3 From Army service to Ecology’s marine flights, float plane serial number 710 continues its colorful past and has been around longer than most of us. Weather conditions p. 5 The weather changed dramatically in the past two days, from warm and cloudy to sunny and colder than normal. River flows peaked briefly on Tuesday and Wednesday in response to Monday’s rain, but they were otherwise at or below normal. Water column p. 6 Fall brings new Puget Sound conditions! The 2011-2012 colder, fresher, higher oxygen conditions are gone. After unusual weather from Aug - Oct, conditions now vary regionally. What will winter 2013-2014 bring? Aerial photography p. 10 Strong tidal fronts and sediment-rich brackish plumes leave Whidbey Basin and move into Admiralty Reach. Orcas follow the edge of the plume heading north! Red-brown blooms continue in Southern Inlets. Long debris lines are numerous in northern Budd Inlet, Hood Canal, and in Central Sound north of Edmonds. Ferry and satellite p. 35 True color satellite images confirm large sediment plume leaving Whidbey Basin and heading into Admiralty Inlet.

Mya Keyzers Laura Friedenberg

Joe Leatherman

Skip Albertson

Dr. Christopher Krembs

Dr. Brandon Sackmann

Julia Bos Suzan Pool

www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/mar_wat/eops/ Previous Eyes Over Puget Sound reports:

Marine conditions from 11-21-2013 at a glance Flight log Weather Water column Aerial photos Ferry and Satellite Moorings

Personal Bio of de Havilland Beaver 710 – Writing last month’s edition made me curious about the specific plane we use for our marine flights. I researched serial number 710 and discovered that this plane has quite a colorful past!

It was delivered to the Army’s 56th Artillery Group on October 19th, 1954, with a $72,000

price tag. The tail number 53-7902 tells us that it was the 7,902nd plane delivered to the

Army, in then West Germany.

In the late 1970’s it retired from the Army and was taken to Kenmore Air in Seattle to be refurbished for civilian use. Photo: Kenneth I. Swartz © 15 October 1978

Photo: Robin A. Walker © 22 June 1970

Personal flight log 11-21-2013 Flight log Weather Water column Aerial photos Ferry and Satellite Moorings

The plane may have had a nice quiet civilian life for a while, but on September 2, 1995, all that changed. A sudden headwind switch during takeoff caused 710 to crash into the shoreline. The pilot and passenger weren’t injured but 710 was …

20 years after their first meeting, Kenmore put the plane back to together again.

Not long after, 710 became part of the Kenmore Air fleet. With our sampling, 710 has returned to its roots as the ultimate utility plane. I think it is

so fantastic that Ecology is now a part of its storied history.

Special thanks to DHC-2.com for collecting the stories of these amazing planes, Hal Bryan for his insights into that history, and Kenmore Air for filling in the gaps.

Photo: Neil Aird © 13 September 1995

Photo: Joe Leatherman 2013

Personal flight log 11-21-2013 Flight log Weather Water column Aerial photos Ferry and Satellite Moorings

Weather of the past two weeks before 11-21-2013

Meteorological conditions typically explain up to half of the variance in observed marine variables (Moore et al. 2008), particularly in shallower waters like those of south Puget Sound. I summarized the specific conditions prevalent during the past two weeks, from north to south. Source: http://www-k12.atmos.washington.edu/k12/grayskies/nw_weather.html

Moore et al. 2008. Local and large-scale climate forcing of Puget Sound oceanographic properties on seasonal to interdecadal timescales. Limnol. Oceanogr., 53(5), 1746–1758

Two week summary: Air temperatures. Daily average air temperatures had been above normal, but the past two days have been cold! Sunshine levels had been below normal, but the past two days have been sunny. River flows had been low, but peaked two days ago after heavy rain on 11/18. Winds have been weak from the north for the past two days, otherwise stronger and from the south.

Moore et al. 2008. Local and large-scale climate forcing of Puget Sound oceanographic properties on seasonal to interdecadal timescales. Limnol. Oceanogr., 53(5), 1746–1758

We use a chartered float plane to access our monthly monitoring stations most cost effectively. We communicate data and environmental marine conditions using: 1. Marine Water

Condition Index (MWCI)

2. Eyes Over Puget Sound (EOPS)

3. Anomalies and source data

Our long-term marine monitoring stations in Washington

Start here

In 2013: Temperature varies Salinity varies Oxygen varies

Conditions of the last two years change at our stations

Fall brings new Puget Sound conditions! The 2011-2012 colder, fresher, higher oxygen conditions are gone. So far in 2013, there were warmer temperatures at the Coast, and a lower oxygen in the northern parts of Puget Sound and Hood Canal. After unusual weather from Aug - Oct, conditions now vary regionally. What will winter 2013-2014 bring?

-25 -20 -15 -10 -5 0 5 10 15 20 25

1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015

a) Pacific Decadal Oscillation Index (PDO, temperature) (explanation) b) Upwelling Index (anomalies) (Upwelling, low oxygen) (explanation) c) North Pacific Gyre Oscillation Index (NPGO, productivity) (explanation)

O (x10)

Three-year running average of PDO, Upwelling, and NPGO indices scores

Ocean boundary conditions have been favorable for water quality in Puget Sound: (a) colder water (PDO), (b) less upwelled low oxygen and high nutrient ocean water reaching Puget Sound (Upwelling Index), and (c) higher surface productivity along the coast (NPGO). Where are we heading next?

The ocean affects water quality: Ocean Climate Indices

Nitrate Phosphate

Nutrients in Puget Sound are increasing, read http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/mar_wat/trends.html

Nitrate Phosphate Nutrient Balance (Si:N)

Get the data and trends from us!

We observe increasing nutrients and changing patterns of algal biomass in Puget Sound

Changing Nutrient Balance

Algae bloom, Budd Inlet 2010

Summary: Aerial photography 11-21-2013

Strong tidal fronts and sediment-rich brackish plumes leave Whidbey Basin and move into Admiralty Reach. Orcas follow the edge of the plume heading north! Red-brown blooms continue in Southern Inlets. Long debris lines are numerous in northern Budd Inlet, Hood Canal, and in Central Sound north of Edmonds.

Start here Mixing and Fronts: Many tidal and salinity fronts seen in Admiralty Inlet.

Debris: Abundant in Hood Canal and Admiralty Inlet.

Visible blooms: Red brown: Budd, Eld, Totten and Henderson inlets.

Jellyfish: Infrequent small patches seen in Budd Inlet

Suspended sediment: Abundant in Admiralty Inlet originating in Whidbey Basin. Sediment rich river plumes seen in Hood Canal Main stem. Pl

Seattle and the rest are bright and clear

Views of clouds in Hood Canal near Union

3 8 10 11 12 15 16 17

1 2 7 11 13 15 16 17 18 20

1 2 3 19 20

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 13 14 15 16 17 20

Strait of Juan de Fuca

San Juan Islands Padilla Bay

Main Basin

Hood Canal

South Sound

Whidbey Basin

Observation Maps:

Afternoon flight, photos 10-20: Good visibility, wind and waves.

Flight Information:

Morning flight, photos 1-9: Good visibility, calm, glare on water.

Aerial photography & navigation guide

Central Sound & Hood Canal

South Sound

Seattle: H. tide: 7:46 AM, 6:13 PM, L. tide: 12:22 AM, 1:40 PM

Suspended sediments, internal waves, and red-brown algal bloom. Location: Budd Inlet (South Sound) 10:28 AM.

1 Aerial photography 11-21-2013 Navigate

Internal waves

2 Navigate Aerial photography 11-21-2013 Flight log Weather Water column Aerial photos Ferry and Satellite Moorings

Red-brown bloom, and debris line. Location: Eld Inlet, A. Looking south, B. Close up (South Sound), 10:30 AM.

3 Navigate Aerial photography 11-21-2013

Red-brown algal bloom, fronts, and debris lines. Location: Totten Inlet (South Sound), 10:32 AM.

10:42 AM 10:36 AM B. A.

4 Navigate

Aerial photography 11-21-2013

Long debris lines outlining tidal flow. Location: A. Pickering Passage, B. Reach Island, Case Inlet (South Sound).

Organic surface debris over mudflats at high tide. Location: Lynch Cove (Hood Canal), 10:48 AM.

Debris

Organic surface debris over mudflats at high tide. Location: Lynch Cove (Hood Canal), 10:48 AM.

Sediment laden river plume with internal wave feature hugging eastern shore. Location: Across Ayock Beach Drive (Hood Canal), 11:25 AM.

is Plum

Internal waves

Long debris line. Location: Off Hama Hama Ridge Drive (Hood Canal), 11:26 AM.

Long debris line parallel to western shore. Location: Near Jorsted Creek (Hood Canal), 11:27 AM.

Lines of organic debris and large tidal front. Location: Off Mutiny Bay (Admiralty Inlet), 1:02 PM.

t Debr

Lines of organic debris and large tidal front. Location: Off Mutiny Bay (Admiralty Inlet), 1:03 PM.

1:45 PM

1:46 PM B.

Tidal front separating clear and sediment laden water. Location: Useless Bay (Admiralty Inlet).

12 Navigate

Many organic debris lines and layers of sediment laden water originating from Whidbey Basin. Location: Off Skunk Bay (Admiralty Inlet), 1:48 PM

13 Navigate

Many organic debris lines and sediment laden water originating from Whidbey Basin. Location: Off Point No Point (Central Sound), 1:48 PM.

14 Navigate

15 Navigate

Many organic debris lines and sediment laden water originating from Whidbey Basin. Orcas swimming along front. Location: Point No Point (Central Sound), 1:50 PM.

16 Navigate

Many organic debris lines and sediment laden water originating from Whidbey Basin. Orcas swimming along front towards the north. Location: Point No Point (Central Sound), 1:50 PM.

17 Navigate

Many organic debris lines and sediment laden water originating from Whidbey Basin. Location: Point No Point (Central Sound), 1:57PM.

18 Navigate

Water from the Puyallup River containing sediment entering Quartermaster Harbor. Location: Quartermaster Harbor (Vashon Island), 3:58PM.

19 Navigate

Red-brown algae bloom and turquoise water. Location: Henderson Inlet (South Sound), 4:09 PM.

20 Navigate

Red-brown algae bloom, suspended sediment, surface debris and wind driven foam lines. Location: Budd Inlet (South Sound), 4:11 PM.

Aerial photography observations in Central Sound Observations in Central Sound, Hood Canal Navigate

Numbers on map refer to picture numbers for spatial

reference

Date: 11-21-2013

Observations in South Sound

Numbers on map refer to picture numbers for spatial reference

Navigate

Date: 11-21-2013

Legend to map annotations

Comments: Maps are produced by observers during and after flights. They are intended to give an approximate reconstruction of the surface conditions on scales that connect to and overlap with satellite images in the section that follows. Debris: Debris can be distinguished into natural and anthropogenic debris floating at the surface sensu Moore and Allen (2000). The majority of organic debris in Puget Sound is natural mixed with discarded man-made pieces of plastic, wood, etc. From the plane, we cannot differentiate the quality of debris at the surface and therefore, call it for reasons of practicality just “debris”. S.L. Moore, M. J. Allen. 2000. Distribution of Anthropogenic and Natural Debris on the Mainland Shelf of the Southern California Bight. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 40(1), 83–88.

Navigate

Ferry and satellite observations 11-21-2013

MODIS-Aqua 21 November 2013

Brandon Sackmann Contact: bsackmann@ecy.wa.gov High turbidity and sediment concentrations entering Central Sound from Whidbey Basin.

Strength through collaboration across agencies, academic institutions and companies. We have plans to continue to collect data at our Admiralty Reach (UW Applied Physics Lab) and Mukilteo (ORCA College) moorings into the future. Operations at all other mooring locations have been suspended in order to reallocate existing resources.

Note: Due to state and federal budget reductions, our mooring program is being downscaled.

We are now focusing on measuring ocean intrusions!

Why? The importance of the ocean on water quality in Puget Sound is being emphasized by Ecology’s mooring at Admiralty Reach, long term monitoring data, modeling studies, and academic publications. Admiralty Reach is a challenge - it requires a team effort! Upwelling along the coast can bring high nutrient, low oxygen and low pH ocean water into Puget Sound. Such intrusions explain much of the year to year variability in water quality.

For intrusions to enter Puget Sound, several conditions have to align: • Prolonged upwelling along the Washington coast. Driver: Northerly winds • Estuarine circulation moving dense water from the coast into the Strait of Juan de

Fuca. Driver: High Fraser River flow during summer • Neap-Spring tide phase and character favorable to intrusions along the 30 km length of Admiralty Reach. Drivers: Neap tides and tidal harmonics

Future Focus of Mooring Operations

Access mooring data:

ftp://www.ecy.wa.gov/eap/Mooring_Raw/Puget_S

Ferry and satellite : brandon.sackmann@ecy.w

Get data from Ecology’s Monitoring Programs

Long–Term Monitoring Network

Real–Time Sensor Network

Access core monitoring data: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/apps/eap/marinewq/mwda

taset.asp

christopher.krembs@ecy.wa.gov

Ecology’s long-term marine monitoring stations

Ferry track Morning flight Evening flight

Freshwater Report: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/fw_riv/freshwaterReport/Ambient_Monitoring-Monthly_Summary.html

You may subscribe or unsubscribe to the Eyes Over Puget Sound email listserv by going to: http://listserv.wa.gov/cgi-bin/wa?A0=ECOLOGY-EYES-OVER-PUGET-SOUND

Many thanks to our business partners: Clipper Navigation, Swantown Marina, and Kenmore Air.

We are looking for feedback to improve our products.

Dr. Christopher Krembs

christopher.krembs@ecy.wa.gov

Marine Monitoring Unit Environmental Assessment Program

WA Department of Ecology

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